A couple of articles this week on perspective, and especially why those on the political left often state a marked distaste for those on the right.

The Adam Smith Institute’s President Madsen Pirie makes the case that the real difference between the two is not attitude but method:

The left typically favour the use of state power through high taxation, nationalization and the fixing of prices.  The centre-right typically favour relatively free markets, private enterprise, and prices that respond to changes in supply and demand.  Their case is that these usually achieve more sure and more rapid economic growth than can be attained by collectivist planning and state controls.  The left pursue greater equality, whereas the centre-right seek to promote greater opportunity.

In Wednesday’s Times, Daniel Finkelstein takes issue with the left’s disdain (“True socialism always ends with the Stasi”):

Hatred of Conservatives is common currency on social media, and at Labour conferences you can buy mugs with the words “Never kissed a Tory” on them.

… Not unreasonably, many Conservatives are quite hurt. It’s never nice to be thought evil by someone. And the misunderstanding, that Tories are like Mr Burns out of The Simpsons, is quite frustrating. There is also something quite amusing about people who check someone’s position on free schools before they kiss them.

Both worth a read.

Photo by Justin Luebke on Unsplash